IT GIVES me great pleasure this time of the year to watch the new yearlings as they arrived at the yards for their first bit of education which will eventually lead them on to racecourses next season.

Kevin Ryan has 10 yearlings at the yard including a couple of very nice home-bred by Sunderland footballer Nial Quinn.

With more yearlings arriving, he will have 15-20 this year, but I have given a lot of attention to a lovely Paris House colt who my granddaughter has named Highlights because of the beautiful mane he has.

So it looks like the chequebook has to come out.

Ribble Assembly did not run last week because all was not quite right, but he is buzzing again now and will go to Sedgefield next Tuesday with a great chance.

There is some good racing at York this week, and on Wednesday in the last race, Martyn Wane is very bullish about Top of the Class. This horse has not run a bad race since she was third in the Brocklesby on the first day of the season.

Martyn tells me the horse will take over from Prince Dome who he lost in a tragic accident earlier this year and York will really suit the tall leggy filly who needs a galloping track. Also at York on Wednesday our last Wednesday's winning nap, Daawe 6-1, will have a great chance in the 4pm X-Tant Handicap.

At the same meeting on Thursday, top weight On Time, and Granny's Pet, will take all the beating.

Up the Clarets makes his seasonal debut at Carlisle on Friday and could run a big race as he goes well when fresh. If Ian Balding sends Haymaker to Lingfield in the 3.50 Come Racing at Lingfield Handicap on Friday the word is he will take all the beating.

Tunnel Bridge should give us a good each way chance at long odds for his first lineout over hurdles at Hexham on Saturday.

He has been going very well when being schooled with Ribble Assembly.

Have a good week.

Wednesday (York) - Top of the Class (Nap) Wednesday (York) - Daawe (EW)

Thursday (York) - On Time (Nap)

Thursday (York) - Granny's Pet

Friday (Lingfield) - Haymaker (Nap)

Friday (Carlisle) - Up The Clarets (EW)

Saturday (Hexham) - Tunnel Bridge (EW)

Tuesday (Sedgefield) - Ribble Assembley (EW)

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.